Grand Rapids Public Schools hires new executive director for facilities

GRAND RAPIDS -- Grand Rapids Central High School doesn't look much different from when Ken Klomparens was a student there in the 1970s but, now, he will have a say in how it is reconfigured for future students.

Klomparens, 53, was tapped to be the Grand Rapids Public Schools' new executive director for facilities. He leaves Gerald R. Ford International Airport, where he has worked for 17 years.

School leaders picked Klomparens from a field of about 40 applicants because they believed his experience in the public setting of the airport was similar to what is needed for the district, Chief of Operations Lisa Freiburger said.

The Board of Education wants to place a $250 million tax hike to renovate secondary schools before voters next year.

But Freiburger said the schools are going to get work in some form as part of an academic restructuring, even if the bond issue fails.

"Ken hasn't had much experience with school buildings, but he had hands-on experience in dealing with contractors and working with the Kent County Aeronautics Board," she said. "There were lots of aspects that were similar."

As facilities engineer at the airport, Klomparens oversees a 3,000-acre campus and about 30 buildings. A major project to build a parking deck is under way, but the airport's board recently trimmed $60 million in projects, including terminal work, fearing not as much cash would be available as the airline industry cuts back.

Klomparens said he was interested in the challenge of planning renovations to secondary schools -- especially while students are there.

"We did that work on the airport terminal while it was a 'live' building," he said. "We never closed during the entire project. This seems like an exciting challenge, one of those activities you don't want to pass up."

Airport leaders said they congratulated Klomparens on taking the new post.

"Ken played a significant role in establishing the Gerald R. Ford International Airport as a state-of-the-art facility serving the West Michigan region," said Jim Koslosky, executive director of the Kent County Aeronautics Department.

Klomparens is scheduled to start Sept. 2. The job was posted with a $99,000 salary that can be increased based on experience.